Fluid-supply apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet l FLUID SUPPLY PPAATUS T. L. HILES Filed Sept. 8, 1924 MM. uw @w .wm mn um Aug. 12, 1930. T. L.' HlLEs FLUID SUPPLY APPARATUS Filed sept. 8, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 A fom 'Patented Aug. 12, 1930 PATENT OFFICE THERDN L. HILES, F NILES, :MICHIGAN FLUID-SUPPLY APPARATUS' Application mea september a, i924. serial no. 736,414.

The invention in its broader aspects pertains to the supply of two or more luids such as air and gas to form a combustible mixture at the point-of consumption.

The primary aim of the invention is to provide for the supply of a plurality of gaseous uids in varying volumes as desired for consumption, and in a desired ratio, with a higher degree of eciencyrthan has heretofore been possible.

In the supply of air and gas for purposes of combustion, the more common method in use involves the premixing of the air and gas in proportions such that a secondary air supply must be admitted at the burners. This method is objectionable because of its inefficiency due among other things to the necessity for manual adjustments which necessarily render the operation and the control uncertain, and to different physical au characteristics of the gases variously affecting their ow under varying conditions so as to render their accurate control at the point of introduction to the mixing appa-J mum velocity slightly greater than the rate. Aof flame ropagation to prevent backfring. This method, because of the accompan ing lire hazard is generally` limited to use w ere the volume consumed is relatively small.

With the methods in view, as set\forth briefly above, the object of my invention is Vto produce a method .of and ap aratus for 'supplying air and gas for coInEustion, .wherein the air and gas are/admitted to the apparatus in the proper ratio to fins'ure veflicient combustion,-

and are separately delivered in varying volumes as desired to the combustion zone and without any attending fire hazard.

difficulties attending prior' In carrying out my invention I rovide positively actuated impellers of suita le construction for each ot the iuids to be supplied. These impellers are operated at a uniform speed, preferably by a single power unit, and each operates upon its respective fluid separately and is arranged to deliver such fluid independently to the combustion zone. The respective impellers are made of capacities such as to deliver their fluids in the proper ratio, and to insure uniformity of operation, the pressures of the iiuids at the inlets of the various impeller casings are stabilized and preferably brought to the same level, as for example, atmospheric pressure. In the preferred form, I control the volume delivered solely by regulating the speed'of the driving unit, which is an electric motor having control means adapted to effect a wide range of speeds. The arrangement is such that the function of the two impellers acting respectivelyon the air and gas is that of propelling them through their respective discharge pipes at a velocity suficient only to `,supply the consumption demand. rlhe gases therefore flow under a relatively low4 pressure so that the loss due to friction is small. In prior apparatus where a secondary air supply is admitted at the burner, the gases are necessarily under a high state of compression due in the first place to the necessity for maintainin a ve, locity suicient to overcome the rate o lame propagation, and in the secqnd place to the fact thata high velocity of the gases is required to induce the flow of suflicient volume of secondary air supplied at the' burner to support combustion and to cool theburner so as to prevent pre-ignition from. the heat of the burner. It is well known that the friction of a gas flowing through a passage increases substantially with the pressure, and it will'thus be apparent that where the gases are separately delivered to the point of consumption under low pressure as in my invention a substantialsaving in power is obtained.

Another important advantage o f this apparatus resides in its commercial possibilities. Thus I contemplate that the apparatus may be constructed in the form of small units requiring a driving motor of only a fraction of a horse power and consuming very little current, it eing only necessary for the impellers to operate on the several gases suiiiciently to eHect their 1iropulsion toward the point of combustion in a sufliciently large volvention is that. it. is capable of economical construction because-of its extreme simplicity. It therefore is available to small consumers of gas where the cost of the large systems now in common use is prohibitive.

Finally, the use of a plurality of separate small units in a large industrial plant as compared with a single system supplying all of the outlets results in a substantial saving in power because only such of the burners as are in actual use at a given time require an expenditure of power, whereas in the case of the large systems in common use compressors are employed to place the gases under a high state of compression and operate at maximum capacity at all times irrespective of the numberof burners in use,

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a preferred-embodiment of my invention, but I contemplate that various changes in construction and arrangement will occur to those skilled in the art without departing .from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed inthe appended claims. I also contemplate that the invention is susceptible to general application not limited to the supply of air and gas for combustion purposes.

n the drawings Figure 1 is a view partially diagrammatic in character illustrating an air-gas su'pply system embodying my invention, the major portion of the apparatus being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 2-2 ot Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view in the plane of line 3 3 of Fig. l.

JFig. 4 is a plan view o the air and gas discharge pipes, with the end portions thereof shown in section to illustrate a minor feature of construction.

Fig. 5 is a Vvertical sectional view through the parts shown in Fig. 4 and taken on line 5 5. i

Fi 6 is a general view illustrating a modified orm of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a diferent form of means for varying the speed of the impellers.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, I have in this instance shown two impellers constructed as a unit but operating respectively upon separate iiuidsy which for convenience I will hereinafter refer to as air and gaa 8 designates generally the air impeller and 9 the gas impeller. The former has a casing 10 of the snail type with a central inlet opening 11 .and a tangential outlet opening or dis- .charge port 12. The latter or gas impeller has a snail type casing 13 with a central inlet opening 14 and a tangential outlet opening or discharge port 15. The two casings 10 and 13 are in this instance placed side by side to form a single structure with the inlet openings 11 and 14 disposed on opposite sides of the structure. The respective casings have inwardly extending ilanges 16 and 16l suitably secured together leaving a central opening which is closed by means of a plate or disc 17 forming part of the two impellers as will presently be described. The disc 17 Ithus constitutes a partition wall between and common to the two casings. Its peripheral edge in the present instance operates between the outer wall o gas casing 13 and its flange 16". An annular ring 18 fast upon .thedisc 17 is bent to overlie the flange 16 in order to cut ofi' communication between the two casings While permitting of the r0- 'tation of the disc relativelto the casings.

The two impellers are also unitary in construction. That for the air comprises a series of blades 19 curved at their outer ends as shown in Fig. 3. These blades are rigidly secured at one side edge to the disc 17. imi- Alarly the impeller for the gas comprises curved blades 20 rigidly secured to the opposite side of the disc 17 At its center, thel disc 17 is made fast upon a shaft 21 of an electric motor 22 suitably supported so that its shaft is disposed concentrically of the two casings. 23 designates generally a rheostat of common construction for controlling the' supply of current to the motor 22 whereby to vary the speed of operation of the pressure unit. This device is preferably of the type so constructed that in the event of a failure of the current supply the operating lever will return to its starting point so that a manual 'operation is required to set the apparatus in motion'upon a resumption of the current supply.

It is preferable that the gas be admitted to the casing 13 at a pressure equal to the pressure ofthe air admitted to the casing 10, to-wit, atmospheric. To this end I employ an automatic pressure governor 24 in the gassupply line 25, which is connected with the inlet opening 14 of the casing 1'3. This overnor comprises a casing 26 having a iaphragm 27 therein to the upper side of which atmospheric pressure is admitted through a port 28. rIhe diaphragm 27 has secured thereto a valve member 29 operatingto control the ow of as through a port 30 in a diagonal wall 31 ormed in a depending wall 32 of the casing. The diaphragm is weighted as shown at 33 and 34 so that normally the valve member 27 tends to open the port 30 the weights 33 and 34 being sucient to balance the pressure of the incoming gas against aiiexible wall 35 secured between the inain section 26 of the casing and the depending valve housing 32. The weights being balanced, the valve is operated by atmospheric pressure upon the upper side of the diaphragm 27. A building up of pressure ahead of the governor 24 is communicated to the under side of the diaphragm through a port 36, and the arrangement is such that when this built up pressure equal izes' or balances the atmospheric pressure upon the upper side of the diaphragm, the Valve 29 will be closed by gas main pressure acting upon the under side of the diaphragm 35, thus shutting 0H the further supply of gas until the pressure in the pipe line ahead of the governor falls.

It may some times happen that when the apparatus is inoperative the pressure in the pipe line between the governor and the impeller may be less than atmospheric; and inasmuch as atmospheric pressure on the under side of the diaphragm 27 is necessary to efect a closing' of the valve l have provided means controlled by the propelling means to insure that the pressure in the pipe line ahead of the governor shall not be less than atmospheric and hence insure the closing of the valve when the operation of the apparatus ceases. rhis means comprises an ancillary valve casing 37 located in the pipe line 25 between the governor and the impeller casing 13. Said casing 37 has a valve 38 therein for controlling the dow of gas through the pipe line. A diaphragm 39 in a depending portion 40 of the casing forms apressure chamber 41 which communicates by way of a pipe 42 with the air casing 10 at a point adjacent its outlet opening. 43 is a port establishing communication between the pipe line lleading to the casing 13 and the chamber 41a formed on the upper side of the diaphragm 39. When the apparatus is. shut down suction ceases in pipe line 25 and chamber 41H", at the saine time pressure ceases in line 42 and chamber 41, diaphragms 44 and -39a are then unsupported in their raised positions and fail with the attached gravity weight 44 closing the connected ancillary valve 38 which is locked in its closed position by gas main rassure which may accumulate in the chain er above diaphragm 39 subsequent to the closing of the ancillary valve 38. Conversely when the vapparatus is in operation, the suction, in the pipe line 25, induced by the gas impeller, combined `with the pressure produced ,by the air impeller upon the under side of the diaphragm,

opens the valve 38 so as to render the governor 24 operative to stabilize the gas in the supply line at' atmospheric pressure.

It will be observed that by the construction provided ythe air and gas are confined during their passage through their respective casings, and this relation is maintained until the gases reach the point of combusi tion. Thus I provide separate discharge pipes or conduits 45 and 46 for the air and gas, respectively, leading to the combustion zone within a furnace chamber 47, the pipes being herein shown as arranged concentric" of the two gases I provide in the respective a passages 49 and 5() spirally arranged blades 51 and 52 (Figs. 4 and 5), two such blades being shown in each passage. Moreover the vblades inthe respective passages are oppositely inclined so as to produce whirling motions of the two gases in opposite directions.

lt is an essential feature of the mechanical structure provided that the air and the gas be coniined within separate noncommunicating compartments during 'their passagelv through the apparatus, as shown herein the air compartment is made up of the air impeller casing 10 andthe discharge pipe45 which is connected'to the outlet of the casing 10, the gas compartment is made up of the as main 25, on which the gas governor casing 24 and the gas valve casing 37 are mounted and by which they are connected to the inlet of the gas impeller casing 13, and the gas discharge pipe 46 which is connected to theoutlet of the casing 13; this construction provides for the safe operation of the apparatus b preventing any mixing of air and gas wit in the apparatus and thus eii'ectually removes the hazard of a gaseous mixture iire or explosion within the apparatus.

summarizing the operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. to 5, the motor 22 is set in motion by the operation of the rheostat 23 at a speed determined by the volume of the two gases which are required for combustion. The two impellers are thus driven as a unit and air and gas are drawn into the respective inlet openings 11 and 14 in a fixed ratio determined by the proportions of the parts in each instance. and by the physical characteristics. The gas is supplied to impeller at a pressure eqxual to the air due to the functioning of the governor k24. The

latter. receives gas at a.v fluctuating pressure from the supply main and operates in a well known manner to maintain a pressure in the supply line equal to the atmospheric pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm 27.

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`phragm 39, and pressure near the outlet port 12 of the casing 10 is transmitted to the under ,side of the diaphragm'39, with the result that the valve member 38 is instantly and positively operated to open the passageway through the pipe line. Conversely when the impellers cease their operation, the suction on the upper side of the diaphragm 39 is interrupted as is also the pressure on the under side of the diaphragm, so that the action of 4the weight 44 plus the `pressure -of the gas up'on the upper side of the small diaphragm 39 quickly and positively moves the valve member 38 into closed position. As a result, pressure behind the valve 38 builds up and is transmitted to the under side of the dia' phragm 27 overcoming the pressure upon the upper side thereof and closing the valve 29.

Thefgases dischargedy from the two casings 10 and 13 are conducted by their respective pipes and 46 to the combustion zone, the two pipes merging into a concentric relation at this point, and because of the presence of the oppositely inclined blades 51 and 52 in the discharge pipes 49 and 50, whirling motions are imparted to the two gases in opposite directions, thus effecting their intimate mixing and commingling.

It will be observed that the two impellers operate positively to propel the respective gases in measured fiow through their respective discharge pipes to the combustion/zone. The ratio, being determined by the pro or. tion of the parts, and the fixed physical c aracteristics of the gases, is always definite and certain. There is no opportunity for precombustion, because the gases are separately confined. Further, there is no necessity for imparting to the gases a velocity greater than that necessary to supply the combustion needs. There is thus no waste of the gas, and

there is no necessity for high compression,

nor for the provision of cooling equipment made necessary by the generation of excessive heat. Further,because the gases are separately confined up to the point of combustion, 1t isnot necessary to admit a secondary air supply at the burner to cool the parts and prevent pre-combustion as isl the case where the two gases are premixed and confined within a single pi e. An important factor is the saving in t e power, it being'apparent that by avoiding high compression and by eliminating waste a saving in current consumption by the motor is effected.

There is thus a total absence of the usual attending fire hazard, and at the same timel the operation is carried on with maximum efficiency.

` ,An important factor is the simplicity of the structure as compared to prior apparatus. No control valves, either at the inlet openings or at the point .of discharge are employed which reduces the cost of manufacture, and also renders it unnecessary to employ skilled attendants.

. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the two impellers 8 and 9 are made separately, but both are driven from a common drive shaft 21 of a motor 22 located between the two impellers. The iuids are discharged into pipes 45 and 46', which merge into a concentricfrelation, as in the embodiment above described and shown in Fi s. 1 to 5.

In some instancesrit may e desired to provide fora variation in the ratio of the two gases, as for exam` le when it is desirable for different classes o work to vary the carbon content of the combustible mixture. I have in this embodiment of my invention shown the two casings e uipped with sleeves 53 and 54 arranged'axia ly thereof and adjustable in and out to vary the respective capacities of the two impellers as may be desired.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a ,means for controlling the speed of operation of the fans in place of the rheostat 23. This means comprises a friction disc 55 fast on the shaft 21 and a friction pinion 56 having a slidable but non-rotatable connection with the shaft of the driving motor 57. The pinion 56 is arranged to be adjusted relative to the disc 55 and held in adjusted position by means of a clamp 58 coacting with a rod 59 of a frame 60 in which the motor shaft and the shaft 21" are ournaled. This type of control may be pre erred to the rheostat control in cases where the apparatus is called upon to supply a large volume of mixture as for exam le in blast furnaces, a constant speed motor eing preferable where the. load is heavy.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a pair of impellersv operating upon separate fluids to discharge them at a common point to'eect a mixture of the two fluids, and means for driving each of the impellers at a speed determined by the volume of mixture which it is desired to supply, the ratio of the two fluids in the 4mixture being determined by the relative capacities of the .two impellers, and means for vary- .ing said ,relative capacities.

2. The combination of a pair of casings, having separated -inlet ports and discharge ports communicating at a common point, a shaft mounted in said casings and having a disc thereon rotatable in the casings and constituting a division wall therebetween, and blades on opposite sides of said disc constituting impellers for the respective casings for lmoving separately measured volumes of gases ,to vsaid common loint for combustion.

3;. An air an Y gas supply apparatus com-v prising a pair of casings each having an inlet and an outlet opening, said inlet 'openings commumcatmg respectively with separate sources of gas supply, an impeller for each casing, an electric motor for driving said im# pellers as a unit, a pair of discharge pipes leading from said outlet openings respectively and discharging at a common point, and a rheostat for controlling the speed of operation of the motor whereby to vary the volumes of the gases supplied to said point, the ratio of the two gases being predetermined by the relative capacities of the two impellers.

4. The combination with a source of gas supply, of a supply pipe, means including an impeller for delivering said gas in varying volumes from said supply pipe to a combustion Zone, a governor operating to stablize the pressure of gas supply including a valve. means controlled by the pressure of the gas in the supply pipe at the governor outlet arranged to operate said valve, and means con trolled by said impeller to increase the pressure in the supply pipe when the impeller is idle whereby to hold the governor valve closed. A

5. The combination with-a pipe linev communicating with a source of gas supply and impelling means having an air inlet, an inlet communicating with said pipe line and anl Loutlet communicating` with a combustion Zone, of a governor for stabilizing the pressure of the gas supplied to the impelling mea-ns and including a valve adapted to open when the pressure in the pipe line at the governor outlet falls below atmospheric pressure, and means for closing said valve when the operation of the compressor is interrupted comprising a second valve in the pipe line between the governor and the impelling means, and a pressure element acting to open'said second valve only when the impelling means is in operation, said pressure element'being subject on one side to the suction of the impelling means and on its other side to the pressure at the discharge side of the impelling means.

6. rlhe combination of a disk having in peller blades for handling air and gas in separate compartments of a compressor flasing each compartment having an inlet and an outlet and a pipe line communicating with a source of gas supply and the gas inlet of the compressor with a governor for stabilizing the pressure of the gas supplied to the compressor and including a valve adapted to open when the pressure at the governoroutlet falls to atmospheric pressure and means for closing said valve when the operation of the compressor is interrupted comprising a second valve in the pipe line between the governor and the gas impeller, and a pressure element actingto open said second valve only when the compressor is in operation, said pressure element being subject on one side to the suction of the gas impeller and on its other side to the pressure at the air outlet of the compressor.

7. 'The combination with a pipe line communicating with a source of gas supply, an air impelling means having an air inlet, a gas impelling means, an inlet communicating with said pipe line and gas impelling means and an outlet communicating with a combustion zone, of a governor for stabilizing the pressure of the gas supplied to the gas impelling means, said governor comprising a diaphragm controlled valve seated when theI gas impelling means is at rest and means whereby upon starting of both of the impelling meansa suction will be applied to one side of the governor valve diaphragm and a pressure on the other, thereby causing the valve to open.

8. The combination with a pipe line communicating witha source of gas supply, a gas impeller whereby a suction is created in the pipe line, a valve casing carried by saidy pipe line, a valve in said casing and cooperating with a valve seat, said valve being carried by a diaphragm in the casing having a chamber on opposite sides thereof, means whereby upon l said diaphragm, a casing for said air impeller, a pipe connection between said casing and the valve casing and discharging into the chamber thereof below the diaphragm and forming means whereby upon operation of the air impeller pressure is applied below the diaphragm, said gas impeller forming means whereby a suction will be applied in the chamber above the diaphragm thereby unseating the valve.

10. In a fluid supply apparatus, the combination of a pair of casings each having a central inlet and a peripheral outlet, said inlets communicating with separate sources of fluid supply, an impeller wheel in each casing, varies on each impeller proportioned to circulate the said fluids through the said casings between the said inlets and outlets at a desired volume ratio, with fluid pressure governor means, communicating with the inlet of one of the said casings, activated when the said impeller wheels are active and suppressed when they are inactive to control the pressure of one of the said fluids.

and having a chamber on opposite sides of '11. In a iuid supply apparatus, as def bustion zone, in one of the said compartments scribed herein, the combination, of a com-- a gas supply pipe carrying automatic gas pressure stabilizing means a. casing inolosing a fluid impeller and havinga discharge pipe terminating at the said combustion zone, 1n the second of the said compartments a second casing inclosing a second fluid impeller and having a second discharge pipe terminating at the said combustion zone, an electric motor having a driving shaft extending through the said casings and carrying the said impellers, a rheostat controlling the said motor for driving the said impellers at a variable speed, vanes on each' of the said impellers -proportioned to circulate the said fluids at a desired volume ratio through the said compartments, with deflecting means placed directly in the said discharge outlets to impart oppositely whirling directions to the said fluids as they issue from the said outlets.

l2. In a fluid supply apparatus, in combination, with a pair of casings each having an inlet and an outlet and a ositively driven fluid impeller Wheel, one ofP the said casings having a source of fluid supply at its inlet and a discharge pipe at its outlet vented at a combustion zone, the second of the said casvings having a fluid supply pipe at its inlet and a second discharge pipe at its outlet vented at the said combustion zoneof deflecting means directly in the outlets of the said discharge pipes to cause opposite Whirling motions in outflowing fluids.

13. In a fluid supply apparatus in combination, a pair of casings having inlets at separate sources of gas supply and separate outg lets at a common combustion zone, gas flowv directing means at the said outlets, an axialJ driving shaft in thesa'id casings; and proportionalimpeller means separately mounted on the said driving shaft in the said casings for co-operate actions upon the said gases thereby to maintain a predetermined volume ratio, and byv differential impeller pressure means to control the flow of a gas in one of the said casings.

ume ratio and diameters to provide desired pressures in the delivered gases, gas mmgling discharge members, and on one of the sai compartments an inlet gas pressure equalizer fldfw volumes and pressures, and dischar 'ng from separate outlets at a common com ustion zone the air and gas Volumes for mixing and burning. f

' 17. The method of effecting the complete combustion of a formulated fiiel gas, as de'- scribed herein, which consists, in circulating the said gas through a closed compartment by rotative means formulated to act on the said gas-to move it, at a predetermined volume rate per revolution and at a desired pressure increase, to discharge it at a combustion zone there to intimately minglethe said gas with an air volume circulated through a second closed compartment by rotative means roportioned to act on the said air to move 1t, at a predetermined volume rate per rotation and at a desired pressure increase, to discharge it at the said combustion zone there to mingle with the said gas to form a ratioed mixture proportioned to effect the complete' combustion of the aforesaidformulated fuel as. v

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature. y

. THERON L. HILES.

14. In a 4fluid supply apparatus as department .having a gas inlet pressure governor, an automatic gas governor flow control, a ratio gas volume impeller, and a discharge gas flow deiector; with a seco compartment having a ratio air volume impeller, a pressure tube communicating with the said gas governor flow control, and a discharge air flow deflector for united delector actions to "i mia the said -gas and-aircfor burning, beyond their discharge po1nt,.in a common combustion zone. l

' 15. A means for independently delivering a number of gases at a common ,combustion zone,com rising; in combination; compartments eac having an inlet andan outlet for a gas, rotative gas impelliii `members withf compensating v'anes to provi ea desired vol-l rio 

